Choosing the best gaming mouse
No matter what kind of PC games you’re into, you’ll need to invest in the best gaming mouse to satisfy your gaming demands. Even if you already have the best gaming PC on the market, and you’ve blown most of your budget on your fancy setup, getting the the best gaming mouse you can find at your local big box store just isn’t right. With deals going on all the time, you might even save a few bucks on a more expensive option, if that’s what you want.
Though bear in mind that while there’s an age-old myth that the most expensive mouse on the shelf is going to be the best one. That’s simply not true. The SteelSeries Sensei 310, for example, has all the performance you could ask for at less than the price of a brand new AAA game.
Gaming peripherals
Gaming peripherals are a big part of how immersive and smooth your gaming experience is. So the mouse you’re using can make or break your game. It only makes sense, therefore, to put the same level of effort into choosing and getting the best gaming mouse as you would with the bigger purchases. Everything attached to your powerful rig must be of comparable quality.
When choosing the best gaming mouse for your needs, keep an eye open for one that is the most ideal balance of price and performance, while also packing in some unique features in between. Oh, and while you’re at it, you may want to pick up one of the best gaming mouse pads as well.
SteelSeries Rival 710
1. SteelSeries Rival 710
DPI: 12,000 | Features: OLED display, customizable weight, 60-million click mechanical switches, Haptic engine, RGB lighting
Heavy and balanced
Neat features
Expensive
When it comes to the best gaming mouse, features, balance and performance are all there in equal measure in the SteelSeries Rival 710, warranting it a top spot our list. This gargantuan gaming mouse – at least, in terms of power – is a bit expensive, but when you weigh that price against the customizable OLED display, haptic feedback (great for you MOBA players) and excellent build quality, the SteelSeries Rival 710 is easily a solid purchase. The kicker? Everything is modular, even down to the sensor. So you never have to feel like you’re missing out on the latest tech.
SteelSeries Sensei 310
2. SteelSeries Sensei 310
Value and quality
DPI: Up to 12,000 | Features: Ambidextrous design, one-to-one tracking up to 3,500 CPI, 50-million click life span
Reasonably priced
Comfortable for claw and palm grips
No braided cable
Lacks sensor calibration support
The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is the best gaming mouse like no other, both in terms of price and performance. The cost of admission is low, about the same price that you’d pay for a AAA game that’s been out for a little while. And with it, you also get its out-of-this-world TrueMove 3 optical sensor, making it almost impossible to contend with. This mouse, with no preference when it comes to dexterity, is a force to be reckoned with in terms of real-world sensitivity. And, you can pick up the SteelSeries Rival 310 if you want similar performance, but a more right-handed approach to dexterity.
Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
3. Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless
Wireless, for a bargain
DPI: Up to 10,000 | Features: Wireless, RGB lighting, Omron switches
Affordable
High performance
Right handers only
The best gaming mouse is always going to be the one that delivers excellent performance at an affordable price. And, the Corsair Harpoon RGB Wireless is the poster child for this ideal price-and-performance match. You’re getting a wireless mouse that has RGB lighting, boasts a long battery life and doesn’t at all suck, for less than $50. The ergonomics are specifically for right-handed users. But at this price and with this impressive performance, there’s little else to complain about.
Logitech G502 Hero
4. Logitech G502 Hero
It comes in peace
DPI: Up to 16,000 | Features: RGB lighting, programmable buttons, adjustable weights, 1ms latency
Affordable
Amazing sensor
Uncomfortable for larger hands
Aesthetically, you generally have two main options when you’re shopping around for the best gaming mouse. A high-performing mouse that looks like it would fit in the office. Or a mouse that lives and breathes that ‘gaming life’. The Logitech G502 fits firmly in the latter category, with its robotic design. But, if that doesn’t intimidate you, then you get adjustable weights, a jaw-dropping 16,000 DPI sensor and superb performance as well. It’s not ideal for users with huge hands, but beyond that, this one has definitely earned its spot in the best gaming mouse list.
Roccat Kova Aimo
5. Roccat Kova Aimo
An ambidextrous and versatile gaming mouse
DPI: Up to 7,000 | Features: Ambidextrous, AIMO illumination, Titan wheel
Ambidextrous
Solid build quality
Very configurable
Slightly clunky software
We’ve given the Roccat Kova Aimo lofty scores for solid build quality, customizability and excellent gaming performance that only gets better with a bit of tweaking in the Roccat Swarm software. It’s white version looks strangely like those scary robots from I, Robot, but the solid black one is stunning to behold and will definitely blend in with any set-up. Fans of LED lighting might find it a bit wanting, but this gaming mouse’s ambidexterity more than makes for its very minor flaws. All things considered, it’s definitely the best gaming mouse we’ve tested this 2019 so far.
Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520
6. Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520
A decent mouse at a great price
DPI: 12,000 | Features: Customised for claw grip, Customizable DPI settings, Three-zone RGB lighting
Good switches
Affordable
Questionable build quality
If you’re looking to find the best gaming mouse that’s both economical and functional, then the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 is the terrific addition to your gaming rig. It won’t win any beauty contests, but packing quality Omron switches and a decently sensitive sensor capable of up to 12,000 DPI makes it a smart purchase. Those make it easy to look past the unappealing design – especially if you use a claw grip.
Razer Naga Trinity
7. Razer Naga Trinity
A mouse with many faces
DPI: 16,000 | Features: Interchangeable side plates, Razer chroma support, 1000Hz Ultrapolling
Smooth motion tracking
Interchangeable side plates
Expensive
Have you been getting into the World of Warcraft: Classic beta lately? Then you’ll want to check out the Razer Naga Trinity. Razer’s Naga mice have always been fan favorites in the MMO community, and the manufacturer has taken things to a new level with Naga Trinity. With it, you’re getting three easily swappable side plates, so that you can configure your mouse the way you see fit. Add the insane 16,000 DPI sensor and Razer Chroma RGB lighting to the mix, and you’ll be topping the DPS meters in no time. Is there any doubt that the Razer Naga Trinity belongs on the list of the best gaming mouse?
HyperX Pulsefire Surge
8. HyperX Pulsefire Surge
Remain in light
DPI: 16,000 | Features: RGB Light Ring, 50 million click-rated Omron switches
Gorgeous RGB lighting
Omron switches
No customizable weights
If you find yourself rolling our eyes at some of the gaming mice available in 2019 that sport ridiculous, over-the-top designs, then you should take a look at the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB. Boasting extremely reliable Omron switches and ravishing RGB lighting – not to mention, an impressive 16,000 DPI sensor – you’re scoring the best gaming mouse for an excellent price. Plus, it’ll fit into any office, at least once you turn down the lighting effects because of its more accessible design.
Corsair IronClaw RGB
9. Corsair IronClaw RGB
For an iron grip
DPI: Up to 18,000 | Features: Omron switches, Seven fully programmable buttons, Onboard profile storage, Two-zone RGB lighting
Big-hand friendly
Robust build
Heavy middle click
Most of the best gaming mice on the market are either too small or too light, or even a bit of both, giving gamers with big hands very few options. To make matters worse, some of the big mice out there are loaded with gratuitous buttons and odd shapes that make them look like asylum-seekers from an alien robot planet.
The Corsair Ironclaw is just the opposite. It’s an attractive mouse for big-hand users, with a design that won’t make you want to hide it in your desk drawer every time you have company. It’s tough as heck as well, so it can handle a bit of roughing and tumbling, making it the best gaming mouse for you.
Gigabyte Aorus M5
10. Gigabyte Aorus M5
Gaming mouse for the customization nuts
DPI: Up to 16,000 | Features: Weight Distribution System, Surface Life-Off Calibration, On-the-Fly DPI adjustments, 50-million-click Omron Switch, RGB Fusion 2.0
Highly customizable
Great ergonomics
Construction feels a bit flimsy
When you take stock of all its awesome features, it might shock you to find the Gigabyte Aorus M5 at only $69. This stunner is among the best gaming mouse of great value that we’ve tested this year. It’s also very customizable, not to mention boasts great ergonomics and fun RGB lighting. As far as features that will give you the gaming advantage, it boasts an adjustable weight distribution system, on-the-fly DPI adjustments and Omron switches tested for 50 million clicks, to start. If you’re in the market for a mouse that gives you more bang for your buck, this is it.
How to choose the best gaming mouse
While you’ll definitely find the best gaming mouse of your gaming dreams, doing so might take a bit of time and some effort. That’s expected; there’s a ton of complicated technical jargon that goes into the best gaming mice – terms like polling rates and DPI ratings that a regular buyer might not be familiar with. For the record, you’ll want a higher number of both, even though these two terms mean drastically different things.
Dots per inch
For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, when you see the term DPI, that is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify your how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available, but you still want accuracy and precision, then opt for the best gaming mouse with a higher DPI rating that can be toggled to a lower DPI, in case you get a bigger desk.
Polling rate
Meanwhile, a high polling rate means you’re getting faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, so it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second.
Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to consider are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting. Here is a link to Amazon for you to choose your gaming mouse
Gabe Carey and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article
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